weaving

Chapter 1510 Going to the Capital to File a Petition with the Emperor
Yuncheng Salt Lake, within the Three Forbidden Gates.

The Earl of Yongning looked at the assassin's corpse on the ground, then at the bodies of the four guards covered with white cloth on the other side, as well as the three other wounded guards.

Zhang Cheng gritted his teeth and forced out a sentence: "Mobilize troops and search for the assassin."

Zhang Mingyuan also had a cut on his left arm. Although it had been bandaged to stop the bleeding, bright red blood was still seeping out. He was slightly taken aback. After loudly accepting the order, he asked quietly, "Commander, this place is dangerous. Should we move to Yancheng first?"

"Dangerous?" Zhang Cheng said dismissively, "More dangerous than in the new city!"

Zhang Mingyuan dared not say anything more and immediately arranged for his personal guards to go out of Youbao Gate to mobilize troops.

Marquis Yongning, Zhang Cheng, glared with his tiger-like eyes and said in a deep voice, "Mingda, you lead twenty riders to Chengbao Gate immediately; Zhang Jin, you also lead twenty riders to Yubao Gate immediately."

"Remember this well: without my token, no one is allowed to enter or leave!"

"Yes, sir!" the two replied in unison, and quickly led their men away.

…………

Soon after receiving the order from the Earl of Yongning, Lin Fangping immediately took control of Youbao Gate and left Su Laohu with a team of Tiger Guard cavalry to guard the area. He personally led the Imperial Guards, Tiger Guard cavalry, and Chen De's thousand cavalry into the Three Forbidden Gates.

Lin Fangping stayed by Yongningbo's side, overseeing the operation, while Chen De, Li Changsheng, and others led teams to various parts of the salt lake to register everyone inside the three forbidden gates, and at the same time take over the salt fields and all the major transportation routes.

Although some minor frictions occurred during this process, the resistance of these salt farmers was simply weak and powerless, and completely vulnerable to the brave soldiers.

Moreover, most of the salt farmers only resisted under the instigation and coercion of the salt field foremen. They themselves did not dare to resist the brave and resolute soldiers in their armor.

With the execution of a group of saltworks foremen, the resistance within the Three Forbidden Gates ceased completely, and order was restored. All registration and record-keeping work proceeded smoothly...

In less than an hour, the Yuncheng Salt Lake, which covered an area of ​​more than 100 miles, was completely under the control of the Yongyi Army. All three forbidden gates were guarded by Yongyi Army soldiers, and even the patrol personnel on the city walls were all Yongyi Army soldiers.

It can be said that the defense of the entire Yuncheng Salt Lake has been completely taken over by the Yongyi Army, and the operation is proceeding very smoothly with almost no resistance.

The guards who were originally responsible for guarding the three forbidden gates became guides, leading the soldiers of the various brave and resolute army squads to set up control over the salt fields in the salt lake.

…………

“Commander, Salt Transport Commissioner Ma Mingyu requests an audience,” Zhang Mingyuan reported to the Earl of Yongning.

"Where are people?"

"We were stopped by Tiger Su outside Youbao Gate."

"Yes. Tell him that Uncle Ben has been disturbed and will not see any guests for the time being."

"Here."

A moment later, someone else came to report that the Salt Commissioner Chen Zhiliang was requesting an audience outside Youbao Gate.

"Mingyuan, go and bring Chen Zhiliang in," the Earl of Yongning instructed.

Upon receiving the order, Zhang Mingyuan immediately spurred his horse and galloped towards the Zhongjin Gate.

…………

"Why did you invade the Yuncheng Salt Lake?" Upon meeting Zhang Cheng, the Earl of Yongning, the Salt Inspector Chen Zhiliang did not pay his respects or bow, but immediately questioned him.

"Rude!" Lin Fangping shouted.

He then shouted, "Who are you? Why do you not bow to the Commander-in-Chief of the Central Plains Bandit Suppression?"

Chen Zhiliang raised his head and said, "I am the Salt Commissioner, not under the jurisdiction of the Bandit Suppression Commander."

Seeing his attitude, Lin Fangping felt a surge of anger. He stepped forward, placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, and demanded, "The Earl of Yongning is here. What is your position? How dare you not pay your respects?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhiliang immediately lost his previous arrogance and wilted like a frostbitten eggplant.

He hurriedly bowed and said, "Chen Zhiliang, the Salt Inspector of Yuncheng Salt Lake, pays his respects to the Earl of Yongning." "Get up." Zhang Cheng continued, "When I was on my way back to Xuanfu Town, I passed through this place. Seeing how vast the salt lake was, I couldn't help but enter the forbidden gate, thinking I would take a closer look at what this place looked like. I never expected that there would be assassins hiding there, who suddenly launched an attack."

"I am currently unwell and unable to travel far, so I have no choice but to use this salt lake as a temporary resting place. To avoid being attacked by assassins, I had no choice but to send troops in for a thorough search. I hope Imperial Censor Chen will understand."

"The salt lake is a vital source of revenue for the imperial court; how can outsiders be allowed to enter and exit at will?" Chen Zhiliang seemed unwilling to compromise: "Earl Yongning, have you entered the forbidden area without permission? Do you have some ulterior motive?"

The Earl of Yongning did not speak, but his face darkened.

But Lin Fangping, who was standing nearby, couldn't hold back any longer. He shouted, "Chen Zhiliang, are you questioning the Earl of Yongning?"

Seeing Lin Fangping's angry face, Chen Zhiliang seemed unfazed and continued, "The salt lake is a vital source of revenue for the imperial court. No one may enter without permission. Does the Earl of Yongning not know this?"

"Traitors have infiltrated the Yuncheng Salt Lake, plotting to assassinate this governor and destroy the foundation of our finances to obstruct the imperial court's grand plan to suppress the rebels. This is utterly despicable!"

As he spoke, the Earl of Yongning glared and shouted loudly, "Where is Lin Fangping?"

"Your humble servant is here!"

"I hereby order you to guard the Yuncheng Salt Lake, thoroughly investigate all people, find out the traitors who have infiltrated, and ensure that there is no chaos at the salt lake."

"Here!"

"Without the order of this Governor, no one may enter or leave the salt lake; without the order of this Governor, not a single grain of salt may be transported out of the forbidden gate."

"Here!"

Seeing Yongningbo and Lin Fangping putting on a show together, Chen Zhiliang was so angry that his scalp tingled. He raised his hand and pointed at Yongningbo, trembling, "Are you... are you planning a rebellion?"

"Take it!"

Lin Fangping shouted, and immediately his guards rushed forward and pinned Chen Zhiliang to the ground with his back to the ground.

Chen Zhiliang, his mouth full of mud, still shouted fearlessly, "Even the Earl of Yongning cannot kill a court official without authorization... You have no right to kill me... I will impeach you... I will impeach you..."

"Crack! Crack!"

After two crisp sounds, Chen Zhiliang's shouts came to an abrupt end, and two dark red handprints appeared on his face at the same time.

Subsequently, the Salt Commissioner Chen Zhiliang was escorted out of Youbao Gate by the Yongyi Army soldiers. No matter how much he shouted and cursed, it was to no avail; the Yongyi Army soldiers guarding Youbao Gate simply ignored him.

Ultimately, persuaded by Ma Mingyu, the Salt Transport Commissioner, Chen Zhiliang had no choice but to slink back to the Salt City.

…………

The day after the assassination of the Earl of Yongning at the salt pond, Li Changsheng led the Imperial Guards into the Salt City. As the Brave Army entered the Salt City, all the salt warehouses, government offices, and granaries were quickly occupied.

For two days, Salt Commissioner Chen Zhiliang kept clamoring to appeal to the Governor's Office and to send troops to suppress the Yongning Earl's army, but neither the Shanxi Governor's Office nor the civil and military officials of the surrounding prefectures, counties and garrisons responded to his letter.

In the end, Chen Zhiliang had no choice but to leave Siyancheng in disgrace, claiming that he would go to the capital to appeal to the emperor.

"Commander, we're already being lenient by not killing Chen Zhiliang, so why are we sending troops to protect him?"

Seeing the question in Zhang Mingda's eyes, the Earl of Yongning smiled slightly and said to Zhang Mingyuan beside him, "Mingyuan, you explain it to him."

"Yes, Father."

Zhang Mingyuan said with a smile, "My father sent people to protect Chen Zhiliang mainly because he was afraid that someone would kill him halfway."

"I know that, but isn't it good that he was killed halfway through? Why should we protect him?"

"Don't you think about it? If Chen Zhiliang died on his way to the capital to appeal to the emperor, then... who would be the prime suspect?"

"what……"